ट्रेन में

In this chapter, students of Hindi will acquire the vocabulary, cultural knowledge, and reading skills necessary to understand and discuss travel by train and making conversation with fellow travelers. Another theme is India’s multilingual environment. Although India’s government recognizes 2 official languages (Hindi and English) and 22 scheduled languages, there are well over a thousand languages spoken in the country. Most Indians speak at least two languages and are exposed to multiple languages every day. For example, Hindi and Urdu have a close affinity: they share a common grammar and core vocabulary, and in colloquial speech they are often identical. The chapter includes pre-reading questions about travel experiences, a glossary of relevant vocabulary, and a story that describes a group of strangers who meet during a train journey and find they have common interests. The notes on culture elucidate issues related to languages in India, and the activities guide students in their comprehension of the story and in applying this knowledge in a role-play in which students take on the personas of different travelers.